San Antonio Mayor Phil Hardberger says that the city of San Antonio has been designated as a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar America City. Through this partnership, San Antonio receives financial and technical assistance to fund solar energy initiatives that are designed to facilitate mainstream adoption of solar energy and will serve as a model for other cities.
San Antonio is home to the largest currently installed solar energy project in the state of Texas at the historic Pearl Brewery, according to the city. The $1.35 million project includes the installation of a 200 kW PV array on a 67,000 square-foot facility used for office, retail and residential use. In addition, municipally owned CPS Energy has demonstrated its commitment to solar with a 100 MW request for proposals.
The Solar America Cities program was created to accelerate solar energy adoption in the nation's electricity load centers. In addition to providing financial assistance, the DOE offers hands-on assistance from technical experts to help integrate solar technologies into energy planning, zoning and facilities. The process is meant to streamline local regulations and practices that affect solar adoption by residents and businesses.
SOURCE: City of San Antonio
